The Mercy Seat

Numbers 7:89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him

INTRODUCTION:

The Mercy Seat was on top of the lid of the Ark of Covenant. It was described by Martin Luther in his German Bible as the mercy seat because YHWH “sat” enthroned over it in mercy, invisibly present where the wingtips of two cherubim met above it, guarding the divine presence.

So, the Ark represented for Israel the localized presence of YHWH in judgment, mercy, forgiveness, and love; and because it contained the Ten Commandments, it was a visible reminder that their life was to be lived in obedience to the expressed will of YHWH.

The Showbread table was in the Holy Place.

The Ark along with Mercy Seat was in the Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place.

I. THE VEIL
The manifest presence of YHWH is beyond the veil which separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Only the High Priest could go into the Most Holy Place once a year AND only with the blood.

Mark 15:38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

We have access to the Manifest Presence of YHWH because the power of Messiah’s death, BUT only with and through the power of Messiah’s Blood.

Messiah is our High Priest now.

Hebrews 6:19-20 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. I enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Messiah, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in order of Melchizedek.


II. DANCING IN FRONT OF THE VEIL
Sometimes we get into the Holy Place and get to the Veil, BUT we are satisfied
with this. We don’t want to go any further. WHY? Several reasons come to my mind:

1. We are ONLY want the emotional high, not the life changing experience of YHWH,
2. We are AFRAID of going beyond where the veil was - we’re not sure what is in store for us OR better yet was what YHWH has in store for us.

Occasionally somebody accidentally falls past the veil and then comes back with a wide-eyed stare. We get so overwhelmed with His Manifest Presence we can’t handle it. One of the reasons is sin.

I believe we can go into the Holy Place (a little bit of His Manifest Presence) with sin in our lives, BUT not into the Holy of Holies. The High Priest had to prepare himself for a period of time with ceremonial washing. He, and what he wore, had to pure before entering.

One reason we like to linger in the anointing is that it makes the flesh feel good. On the other hand, when the glory of YHWH comes, the flesh doesn’t feel very comfortable.

III. THE ANOINTING

Isaiah 6

The Purpose of the anointing is to help us make the transition from flesh into glory - the transition from the Holy Place to the Holy of Holies. When the glory of YHWH comes, we become like Isaiah. Our flesh is so weakened by YHWH’s presence that it is unnecessary for man to do anything other than behold Him in His glory.

When we come into His Presence, we are:
1. convinced of His Holiness,
2. At the same time, we are convinced of our unholiness and our need to repent and live holy before Him,
3. We are aware of His worthiness to receive praise and worship, AND
4. we are seized by a driving desire to dive deeper and lead others into His presence!

The Manifest Presence of YHWH makes changes in our lives - to live holy lives before Him.

Jacob prayed and wrestled for a blessing, by what he received was a “changing.” His name, his walk, and his demeanor were changed.

Isaiah received the hot coals on his lips, we receive the hot bread of His presence and are forever changed. When more of our flesh dies, more of our spirit lives.

There is a cost of receiving YHWH’s Presence.

 Jacob received the blessing, BUT he also received a bum hip.
 Isaiah received hot coals to his lips.
 They had to tie a rope around the High Priest’s ankle before he passed through the veil. They knew that if he entered YHWH’s presence in sin, then he wouldn’t be walking out of there.

CONCLUSION:

Exodus 25:22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.

Mark 15:38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. We have access to the Manifest Presence of YHWH because the power of Messiah’s death, BUT only with and through the power of Messiah’s Blood.

Are we going to be satisfied with the Holy Place and the occasion blessing from the Presence of YHWH? OR Do we want the Manifest Presence of YHWH?

If the Manifest Presence of YHWH is what we truly want, then we NEED to remember that we can’t go into this Presence with sin.